The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) was founded based on a commitment to provide educational resources to pet care providers and the public coupled with an emphasis on building collaboration among force-free pet trainers and professional pet care providers and advocates for mutually agreed guiding principles for the pet care industry. PPG partners, members and affiliates focus on each pet’s physical, mental, environmental and nutritional well-being adhering to a holistic approach to the care and training of family pets

Established at the beginning of 2012, The PPG began with the very simple goal of serving the Pet Industry and as an educational antidote to the scientifically unfounded and dangerous methods and practices popularized by entertainment TV. Niki Tudge, the founder of The Pet Professional Guild and a Dog Training and Pet Care Professional, was frustrated by the lack of comprehensive resources committed to force-free training and pet care based on current scientific learning theory.

Tudge believed the pet industry needed a source of information where pet owners and pet professionals who are committed to using force-free training and pet care methods could share ideas, exchange best practices, continue their education, collaborate on efforts and find resources that were truly force-free based. In addition, she felt that the pet-owning public needed an educational resource that would clarify the differences in training and pet care methodologies available and where a pet owner could be confident that the information, services and products offered were on the forefront of force-free training and pet care.

Finally, Tudge wanted to establish a vehicle to help further the cause and help educate local governments, pet professionals and the pet-owning community of the fundamental advantages of force-free training and pet care.With information proliferating at an astounding rate in a world where no one can seem to even agree on what ‘organic’ or ‘all natural’ means, The PPG provides a platform for promoting information, resources, equipment, ideas, methods and techniques that owners and pet professionals could trust would reflect the force-free philosophy.

The response to the initial launch was overwhelming. Almost immediately The PPG found a latent market and gained hundreds of new members, worldwide, anxious to be part of the force-free movement. With virtually no advertising PPG membership swelled to over 1,000 active professionals in just a few months and now includes some of the world’s most respected pet professionals serving on the PPG’s steering committee or acting as Special Council.

PPG’s growth and direction are now guided by a steering committee comprised of industry experts with special council provided by pet industry notables. To address issues of particular concern, The PPG has established special committees responsible for membership education, communication, advocacy and ethics.

Soon after The PPG was launched, The International Association of Force-Free Pet Professionals (IAFPP - an organization of pet industry professionals, human companions and enthusiasts who stand against abuse) announced they would join with The PPG to help spread the word of force-free dog training and pet care.

This was the first time in the pet industry that two international organizations teamed up to accomplish a common goal and create a stronger voice for ‘force-free’ dog training and pet care.

Not wanting to be “all things to all people” the PPG is the only professional pet industry member association that advocates for force-free dog training and pet care and requires that its members adhere to its “Guiding Principles” which are made available to the public.

The Pet Professional Guild Company Structure

An Independent “Board of Directors”. Board members will be selected based on the company by-laws to meet the criteria of a 501 c 6 not for profit membership organization.

A “Steering Committee” managed through an Executive Director to operate the business on a daily, weekly and monthly basis with specialized advice and guidance from the “Special Council”

Working “Volunteer Groups” to develop and action the strategic goals. Working volunteer groups will be given specific criteria about their allocated goals, the scope of the project and the decision making criteria.

“Task Force Groups” assigned to individual projects that need industry research and a feasibility study prior to allocating organization resources.

The Pet Professional Guild is a 501(c)(6) Non Profit.

As a 501(c)(6) we cannot solicit donations, therefore this form is provided to organizations who make a formal request and have a specific purpose for donating funds to PPG. This form is not available on the public domain of the PPG website.

501(c)(6) nonprofit associations help small businesses advance their industry or geographic area. These organizations differ from 501(c)(3) charities, which must advance a charitable purpose such as religion, education or public assistance. To qualify for tax exemption under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(6), all of a nonprofit's earnings must be reinvested into the organization and may not benefit any individual member or shareholder.